A Woman of Color Is Joining the Royal Family—And Twitter Is Rejoicing

Meghan Markle is now officially engaged to Prince Harry, but the news of their upcoming nuptials is exciting for more reasons than another royal wedding; she's also historically breaking stereotypes and redefining what it means to be a "princess" (or duchess, if the predictions on her royal title are true).

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As an American, a divorcée, a well-known actress, and, most notably, a biracial woman of color, Markle adds some much needed representation in the British Monarchy, an institution that's historically and almost-entirely white.

The Suits star, whose mother, Doria Radlan, is black and father, Tom Markle, is white, was vocal about her ethnic identity long before being in the limelight as Harry's significant other. In 2015, the actress the famously penned an essay for ELLE UK about her biracial heritage and becoming a "a strong, confident mixed-race woman." She also opened up about her grandfather's "haunting" experience living under racial segregation in the U.S.

In a rare move last year, Kensington Palace publicly confirmed Harry and Markle's relationship and the prince condemned the "racial undertones" in the "abuse and harassment" his now-fiancée received from the public and conservative media.

“Of course, it’s disheartening,” Markle said during her first interview with Harry, which aired today, where she addressed the racism. “It’s a shame that that is the climate in this world to focus that much on that, or that would be discriminatory in that sense. But I think at the end of the day, I’m really just proud of who I am and where I come from.”

This engagement is really quite extraordinary....a divorced American woman who is the child of a black mother and white father is marrying the future King of England’s second son. This would have been unthinkable 20 years ago...perhaps even 10 years ago. pic.twitter.com/5nNEQAtsGP

Megan Markle is American, divorced, an actress and mixed race... I believe Prince Harry just made the #British Royal family relevant again. 🎉 Many congrats Meghan and Harry! Kensington Palace. Royal wedding.

First we had a black President & now we have a black woman (#MeghanMarkle) joining the British Royal Family! Even though people like Trump try their best to prevent those of African decent from rising to the top, nevertheless they persist! Congrats to Prince Harry & Meghan Markle

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